Land Rover’s 2023 Range Rover combines British opulence with impressive durability to set a new standard for luxury SUVs
Visceral. Dramatic. Uncompromising. Those are the words Land Rover uses to describe the newest Range Rover sport, and it lives up to the hype. While its design is more minimalist than previous models, it’s truly a stunner, with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a vehicle in its class. Massaging seats? Check! Ceramic control knobs? Check! And when it comes to high-tech features, it doesn’t compromise. Let’s take a closer look:
A Smooth Operator
This fully redesigned fifth-generation SUV features four-wheel steering, a comfy cabin, above-average fuel economy, and 7,000 pounds of towing capacity to transport you smoothly across any type of terrain. Clean lines, premium leather-wrapped surfaces and crisp wood and aluminum accents feel substantial. The luxurious interior is virtually soundless, even at high speeds. Five- and seven-passenger seating options provide plenty of room for the entire family, and upgrades like ventilated and massaging first- and second-row seats ensure everyone rides in style. Thickly padded seats feature pillow-top headrests and swiveling front-row armrests come with 22 different adjustments.
Power That Overwhelms
Along with familiar six-cylinder engines, there’s a new 434-horsepower plug-in hybrid and a 523-horsepower twin-turbo V-8 from which to choose. Regardless of which engine you opt for, the Range Rover has power to spare with swift acceleration to get you from the on-ramp to highway speed in six seconds or less. Torque varies from 406 pound-feet to 553 pound-feet as you increase horsepower.
Infotainment
The 13.1-inch touch screen features unique Piri Pro software with what’s called “haptic” feedback that causes the screen surface to vibrate when touched. This system includes navigation, Apple Car Play, wireless device charging, multiple USB ports, a 14-speaker stereo, HD radio, satellite radio and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Other available features include an 8-inch rear center console touch screen, a rear-seat entertainment system with two 11.4-inch displays and 18- and 34- speaker sound systems.
By the Numbers
The Range Rover weighs in at three tons but handles like a dream due to its high-tech chassis, which incorporates adaptive air suspension and electronic anti-roll technology. The light and precise steering and the ability to turn the rear wheels opposite to the front makes it easy to park in tight spaces. The basic hybrid models get an estimated 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway. The 434-horsepower plug-in hybrid has a 49-mile driving range and takes five hours to recharge. Pricing for the short wheelbase P400 engine model starts at $104,500 and steps up to $108,000 for the plug-in hybrid. Pricey? Sure. But it may be worth it for the vehicle that some describe as the most desirable SUV ever created.
